Philippines

Dual Citizenship Philippines

Allowed

There are two generally recognized forms of acquiring Philippine citizenship that are by birth and by naturalisation. When applying by naturalisation, the process can either be judicial (Commonwealth Act 473) administrative (Republic Act 9139) or legislative naturalisation (Philippine Constitution). The judicial process is by way of filing a formal Petition and the administrative process is by way of filing an application. The administrative process of naturalisation is only applicable to those applicants who are born in the Philippines and have resided in the Philippines since birth. The legislative naturalisation is by way of an act of Congress. This is conferred only to aliens who have made significant contributions to the government or to the national patrimony.

Filipino citizenship can also be acquired by way of recognition. This is only applicable to those applicants whose fathers and mothers are Filipino citizens at the time of their birth.

Dual Citizenship is regulated according to the rules stated in the Republic Act 9225 and the general definition of a natural born demarcated in the Philippines Constitution. The Constitution states that dual allegiance of citizens is inimical to the national interest and shall be dealt with by law (Article IV, Section 2 par (5), 1987 Philippine Constitution. While the constitution seems to prohibit dual citizenship the Republic Act 9225, otherwise known as the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act, clearly states that it is allowed in the following cases:

• In the event of the reacquisition of Filipino citizenship while retaining their existing foreign citizenship by those natural-born Filipino citizens who have lost their Filipino citizenship; or
• To natural-born Filipino citizen. Filipinos who are natural born citizens and who have dual citizenship can retain both Filipino Citizenship and a foreign citizenship. Dual Citizenship is not granted to foreigners or those who have acquired their Filipino citizenship by naturalisation.
• Foreign nationals who were born outside the Philippines from a Filipino natural born parent may apply for Recognition, without losing the current citizenship.